Even good drivers make mistakes.
If you’re in a situation where you found yourself convicted of a serious driving offense, you may be ordered by the court, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or Texas DPS (Department of Public Safety) to start carrying SR22 insurance.
When your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended, getting SR22 with insurance is a necessary step before you can get your driving privileges reinstated.
You will also need to pay any fines or penalties, and possibly complete a court-ordered program or sentence.
While this can feel overwhelming at first, getting SR-22 insurance in Texas isn’t difficult—it just requires some preparation and knowledge.
When it comes to SR22 insurance, we can help you find inexpensive SR22 insurance.
In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about SR22 insurance in Texas, including who needs it, how to get it, and how much it costs.
Unfortunately, SR22 insurance usually means your insurer will raise your car insurance premium because you’re seen as a high-risk driver.
That’s why we’ve researched various car insurance companies and their premiums to help you find the cheapest SR22 auto insurance in Texas.
What Is SR-22 Insurance?
SR22 insurance isn’t really a type of insurance, although it’s often referred to as such. Instead, it is a financial responsibility insurance certificate.
The certificate shows that you meet the minimum motor vehicle liability insurance coverage required by Texas law—after being found at-fault for high-risk violations while driving.
The minimum auto liability requirements in Texas are:
- $30,000 in liability coverage for each person injured.
- Up to $60,000 per accident.
- $25,000 for property damage per accident.
These liability requirements protect both the policyholder and third parties in the event of injury, death, or property damage.
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Key Point: What Is Minimum Auto Liability Insurance? Almost all U.S. states require a minimum amount of auto liability insurance. This coverage helps to pay for any damage you may cause to property or injury/death of a third party while driving. There are three key components to auto insurance liability:
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Although every driver in Texas needs to meet the minimum auto liability requirements, only drivers with an SR22 filing need to prove they meet these requirements.
If you have a clean driving record and do not have a revoked or suspended license, you will not need to carry SR22 documents.
Many people believe that an SR22 certificate is applicable to people who have been convicted of a DUI or DWI. While this is true, there are several other instances where a person may need an SR22.
Some other instances where a driver may need to carry SR22 insurance include:
- Driving with a suspended license.
- Driving without a license.
- Multiple traffic convictions in a short period.
- Unpaid child support.
- Driving without meeting the minimum insurance requirements in Texas.
How to Get an SR22 in Texas
You’ll know if you need to get SR22 insurance in Texas when you are ordered by the court or the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Generally, this will happen after being found at-fault after a car crash that has caused bodily injury, receiving a DUI conviction, or committing other major traffic offenses.
Once you know you need to get SR22 insurance, here are the steps you need to take to receive your certificate:
- If you’ve been found guilty of a DUI or DWI, you may need to complete a court-ordered program before you can apply for your SR22.
- Get in touch with your auto insurance carrier and find out whether they provide SR-22 insurance. If they do, they will file an SR22 on your behalf. Your insurer will also likely increase the price of your monthly premium payments for your car insurance policy, because you will be considered a high-risk driver.
- Not all insurance companies provide SR22 insurance. If yours does not, you will need to contact other insurance providers, find one that does provide SR22 insurance in Texas, and get a new auto insurance policy.
- You will need to pay any relevant fees and fines, including an admin fee of between $15 and $50, and a driver’s license reinstatement fee of $100.
- Your car insurance company will file an SR22 with the Texas DPS on your behalf, or you can request the documents and file it yourself.
- Once your documents have been processed, your insurer will automatically notify you or you can check the Texas DPS website to see your status.
How Does an SR22 Impact Your Car Insurance in Texas?
While SR22 insurance won’t automatically increase the cost of your car insurance, you have to disclose to your insurer that you need an SR22.
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Key Point: What Are Auto Insurance Rates? Your auto insurance policy is a contract agreed to by you and your insurer. It protects you against financial loss in the event of an accident or damage. Your auto insurance rate is the amount you’ll pay monthly for the coverage, and it is influenced by factors such as: |
Once you’ve notified your insurer, they will be alerted to the fact that an incident has taken place. The severity of the incident dictates how much your auto insurance rates will increase by.
Once insurance providers are aware that you’ve committed a traffic violation, it may be difficult to find insurance companies that will provide affordable car insurance in Texas.
Don’t assume that your current insurance company will offer you the cheapest auto insurance. Rather, compare car insurance quotes from various companies to try and find the cheapest car insurance quote.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you. In the section below, we compared auto insurance quotes for you so you can find cheap car insurance with a SR22 provider.
How Much Does It Cost to Get SR22 Insurance in Texas?
When you need to get SR22 insurance, you’ll have to cover several additional costs along with your SR-22. These include:
- Paying higher liability coverage premiums.
- Paying higher car insurance premiums.
- Losing your good driver eligibility status and associated insurance discount.
- You’ll need to pay a one-time fee to your insurance provider for filing with the DPS.
- Paying any related fines.
- A fee to the Texas DMV to reinstate your driver’s license.
We’ve put together a list of the prices offered by various providers to help you find the least expensive car insurance in the following Texas counties:
- Harris County.
- Dallas County.
- Tarrant County.
- Bexar County.
- Travis County.
On average, the cheapest SR22 insurance in Texas is provided by Mercury, and the most expensive is provided by Bristol West:
- Mercury at $312.00
- Progressive at $470.67
- The General at $485.89
- Bristol West at $546.91
The cost of car insurance with an SR22 will depend on a number of factors, including:
- Which county you live in.
- Your age.
- The severity and frequency of your traffic violations.
- The insured value of your vehicle.
Here is a full table that shows the various prices for SR22 insurance in each of the Texas counties:
| Provider | Harris County | Dallas County | Tarrant County | Bexar County | Travis County | Average |
| The General | $511.65 | $608.12 | $458.86 | $481.73 | $369.10 | $485.89 |
| Progressive | $521.60 | $562.75 | $458.16 | $425.55 | $385.30 | $470.67 |
| Bristol West | $523.57 | $622.40 | $590.42 | $459.62 | $538.56 | $546.91 |
| Mercury | $314.36 | $277.50 | $354.80 | $308.13 | $305.20 | $312.00 |
| Total Average | $453.87 |
How Does an SR22 in Texas Compare to the Other States?
There are only six states in America that don’t require SR22 insurance after a high-risk traffic violation. They are:
- Delaware.
- Kentucky.
- New Mexico.
- New York.
- North Carolina.
- Oklahoma.
To show you how SR22 insurance compares to other states, we looked at the cost of SR22 insurance in these four states:
- New York.
- Texas.
- California.
- Florida.
Although New York doesn’t mandate that high-risk drivers need to have SR22 insurance, New York car insurance companies do offer it. This is done for people who have moved from another state that does require it.
For example, if you are required to carry an SR22 due to an incident in Texas, then move from Texas to New York, you will still be required to get SR22 insurance in New York.
| State | Average |
| New York | $474.89 |
| Texas | $453.87 |
| California | $409.48 |
| Illinois | $334.16 |
While most states require that high-risk drivers maintain SR22 car insurance for three years, in most instances Texas will only require that you maintain it for two years.
Once you’ve fulfilled the requirement, you may be able to shop around for cheap car insurance quotes.
Types of SR22 Insurance for Texas Drivers
SR22 auto insurance is sometimes referred to as ‘high-risk insurance’ because the driver is considered a high risk for insurance companies to insure due to their traffic violations.
There are three different types of SR22 insurance in Texas:
SR22 non-owner’s certificate
Non-owner SR22 insurance is for drivers who:
- Do not own a car.
- Do not live in the same house as someone who owns a car.
- May drive a car on occasion (for example, a rental or borrowing a friend’s car).
Even if you don’t own a car, Texas law states that the driver must meet the minimum auto liability insurance requirements. This means you’re obligated to follow the law anytime that you get behind the wheel of a car (although it may not be your car).
SR-22 owner’s certificate
Sometimes called ‘regular SR22 insurance’, owner SR22 insurance is for people who:
- Own a car.
- Live in the same house as someone who owns a car.
- Have had their driver’s license revoked or suspended and want to reinstate it.
If your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked, you will first need to get SR22 car insurance before you can get your license reinstated.
SR22 operator’s certificate
Operator SR22 insurance provides coverage for drivers who operate motor vehicles they do not own but have permission to operate. For example, if you’re required to drive as part of your job.
Alternatives to SR-22 Insurance in Texas
SR-21 insurance
Unlike SR-22 insurance, SR-21 insurance has nothing to do with being found at-fault for committing a traffic violation.
Instead, it’s a document you will receive from your automobile insurance provider after being in a car accident. This will prove that you met the minimum auto liability requirements at the time of the accident.
SR-22A insurance
There are only three states that require you to carry SR-22A insurance if you’ve violated the terms of your SR-22 insurance, including Texas. The other two states are:
- Georgia.
- Missouri.
A court-ordered SR-22A certificate means that you’ll need to pay six months of your auto insurance premiums up front, instead of paying monthly.
It will generally raise the cost of your auto insurance, and paying six months of installments up front may be a financial challenge for many people.
FR-44 insurance
FR-44 insurance is similar to SR-22 insurance, but it’s only issued in instances where a driver has been convicted of a DUI or DWI. FR-44 insurance is only applicable in two states:
- Florida.
- Virginia.
Having an FR-44 certificate will double the usual liability coverage requirements of the state.
If you need to carry FR-44 car insurance because of a violation committed in one of these states and you then move to Texas, you will need to obtain SR-22 insurance once you’re in Texas.
SR-50 insurance
SR-50 insurance is only issued for traffic violations committed in Indiana. If you have SR-50 insurance and move from Indiana to Texas, you will need to obtain SR-22 insurance.
FAQs about SR22 Insurance in Texas
Does Texas have SR22 insurance?
Yes. You may have to carry SR22 insurance after being found guilty of one of the following traffic violations:
- Driving with a suspended license.
- Driving without a license.
- Multiple traffic convictions in a short period.
- Unpaid child support.
- Driving without meeting the minimum insurance requirements in Texas.
How long is an SR22 required in Texas?
Generally, SR22 insurance is required for two years in Texas. Depending on the severity of your driving infringement, this may be longer.
If you allow your SR22 to lapse before the end date, you’ll be required to reinstate your SR22 filing and the period will start again from day one.
Why do I need an SR22 in Texas?
If you are considered a high-risk driver, you will need to carry SR22 auto insurance to prove that you’re meeting Texas’ minimum liability car insurance requirements.
How do I get my SR22 in Texas?
If you are ordered by the court, Texas DMV, or Texas DPS to get SR22 insurance, you will need to find affordable car insurance that offers it.
Your vehicle insurance company will send the documentation to the Texas PDS, then your insurer will issue you a certificate.
How do you get your license suspended in Texas?
Your driver’s license can be suspended in Texas for the following violations:
- DUI/DWI.
- Reckless driving.
- Driving without car insurance coverage.
- Driving without liability insurance coverage.
- Failure to pay traffic tickets.
Your license can also be suspended for reasons unrelated to driving, such as:
- Vandalism.
- Drug offenses.
- Stealing gasoline.
- Public intoxication.
If you have had your driver’s license suspended, you will need to obtain SR22 auto insurance before you can reinstate your license.
Can I drive someone else’s car in Texas?
Texas law requires that all drivers meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements.
Even if you don’t own a car, you will need non-owner SR22 insurance or operator SR22 insurance if you intend to drive another person’s car.
If you don’t have insurance for SR22, you cannot legally drive someone else’s car.
Get Cheap SR22 Car Insurance in Texas Today with CheapInsurance.com
If you’ve been ordered to carry an SR22 certificate and need to arrange for car insurance to cover you, you can still get the most affordable car insurance quotes through us.
All you need to do is head to the top of this page and enter your zip code. You will find a wide selection of auto insurance quotes to choose from.
Once you have an idea of the car insurance price that you could be paying, it will be time for you to contact the insurers that are offering you the cheap auto insurance quotes to get a formal quote.
Getting car insurance should be quick, simple, and stress-free, and you deserve to get the best inexpensive car insurance rates.
At CheapInsurance.com, we’ve got you covered!
